NOTE: Stipulations of Fact and Consent to Penalty (SFC); Offers of Settlement (OS); and Letters of Acceptance Waiver, and Consent (AWC) are entered into by Respondents without admitting or denying the allegations, but consent is given to the described sanctions & to the entry of findings. Additionally, for AWCs, if FINRA has reason to believe a violation has occurred and the member or associated person does not dispute the violation, FINRA may prepare and request that the member or associated person execute a letter accepting a finding of violation, consenting to the imposition of sanctions, and agreeing to waive such member's or associated person's right to a hearing before a hearing panel, and any right of appeal to the National Adjudicatory Council, the SEC, and the courts, or to otherwise challenge the validity of the letter, if the letter is accepted. The letter shall describe the act or practice engaged in or omitted, the rule, regulation, or statutory provision violated, and the sanction or sanctions to be imposed.

Paul Ricky Mata (Principal)
AWC/2009017465601

Mata participated in private securities transactions without prior written notice to, and prior written approval or acknowledgment from, his firm for these activities. Mata participated in outside business activities and failed to provide prompt written notice to his firm regarding these activities, for which he received compensation totaling $21,417.44.

Mata participated in numerous sales seminars with customers in which he failed to obtain prior written approval from a firm principal for the sales literature used in his seminars; failed to file the sales literature used in his seminars, which included information on variable contracts, with FINRA’s Advertising Regulation Department; and used sales literature in his seminars that was not fair and balanced, contained exaggerated or unwarranted claims, and contained predictions of performance.

Paul Ricky Mata (Principal): Fined $10,000; Suspended 12 months